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Wine Picks February 28, 2018

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Note: This batch of wine reviews is not part of the bi-weekly Vintages Releases. Instead, it's a collection of wines outside the Vintages section in store (general list) or wines sent to me directly from wineries that may not yet be available in liquor stores. Click on the Winery or Wine Agency link to get more info.

Red Wine

Castello Di Gabbiano Chianti Classico 2015, Tuscany D.O.C.G., Italy: A robust, spicy, peppery Italian re wine bursting with flavour and character. Aromas of black fruit and toasty oak. This wine is a blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot and 5% other red grapes. Pair with spicy tomato and meat sauces. Chianti Classico food pairings: pizza, sausages, lasagna. Drink: 2018 - 2023 219808 13% XD 750 mL $25.00 Score: 90/100. February 2018. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Bolgheri Tenuta Le Colone 2015, Tuscany, Italy: A robust Italian red wine made from the grapes grown in Bolgheri's Tenuta Le Colonne vineyard, which is close to the sea. The vines are planted at 5 to 150 meteres above sea level. Aromas of dark fruit and some toasty oak. Pair with rare steak. Decant 1 hour. Drink: 2018 - 2022 544619 13.5% XD 750 mL $26.95 Score: 91/100. February 2018. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Cusumano Noà 2014, Sicily D.O.C., Italy: A blockbuster southern Italian red wine from the island of Sicily and made from the classic grape Nero d'Avola. Aromas of fleshy ripe black fruit and toasty oak. You can taste the warm climate in the glass here. Pair with grilled steak. Drink: 2018 - 2023 109512 15% XD 750 mL $33.95 Score: 91/100. February 2018. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Château Fougas Cuvée Prestige Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Côtes De Bourg, Bordeaux A.O.C., France: A savoury, juicy, woodsy, full-bodied Bordeaux blend of 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 75% Merlot grapes. Aromas of blackberry and black plum and smoke. Pair with grilled meats. Drink: 2018 - 2021 12.5% XD 750 mL $19.85 Score: 90/100. February 2018. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Bastardo! Red Black Edition 2015, Tejo, Portugal: A supple, savoury, luxuriously rich Portuguese red wine blend of 35% Trincadeira, 35% Touriga Franca and 30% Touriga Nacional grapes. Layers of fleshy black plums and berries with a lick of spice and smoke. Pair with hearty meat dishes. Drink: 2018 - 2022 401975 13% D 750 mL $19.60 Score: 90/100. February 2018. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Bastardo! Red Touriga Nacional Syrah Aragonez 2015, Tejo, Portugal: A relatively smooth, easy-drinking Portuguese red wine blend of 40% Touriga Nacional, 30% Syrah and 30% Aragonez grapes. Aromas of black plums and dark berries. Pair with grilled pork chops. Drink: 2018 - 2020 952712 13% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. February 2018. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Bread & Cheese 2015, Tejo, Portugal: A robust Portuguese red wine blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Touriga Nacional and 20% Castelão grapes. Aromas of wild blackberry and cassis. Firm tannic grip on the palate. Decant 102 hours and pair with a rare steak or cheddar cheese. Drink: 2018 - 2020 341189 13% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. February 2018. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Masi Campofiorin 2014, Veneto Igt, Italy: An attractive ruby hue in the glass. Aromas of fleshy ripe red berries and dark spice. A robust Italian red wine with polished tannins. Juicy acidity for tangy tomato and meat sauces. Drink: 2018 - 2023 297655 13% XD 375 mL $16.00 Score: 90/100. February 2018. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Masi Costasera Amarone Della Valpolicella 2012, Veneto, Italy: A gorgeously dark rich robe of deep purple and violet in the glass. This robust Italian red wine offers aromas of ripe blackberry, black plum, dark spice, mocha and dark chocolate. This is the convenient half bottle size. Pair with a pepper steak. Drink: 2018 - 2026 297663 15% D 375 mL $26.95 Score: 91/100. February 2018. Top Rated Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirits Dine With Me Tonight Red Aragonez Trincadeira Alicante Bouschet 2016, Alentejo, Portugal: A pleasingly, savoury Portuguese red wine blend of 50 % Aragonez, 40% Trincadeira and 10% Alicante Bouschet grapes. Plush and supple with aromas of fleshy ripe black plum. Pair with grilled lamb. Drink: 2018 - 2021 401959 13% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. February 2018. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Attanasio Primitivo di Manduria 2013, Puglia D.O.C., Italy: A full-bodied Italian red wine with aromas of black cherry liqueur and dark spice and smoke. Supple. Pair with roast beef. Drink: 2018 - 2022 16% D 750 mL $25.00 Score: 88/100. February 2018. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Feijoada & Co. Red Castelão Trincadeira Aragonez 2016, Tejo, Portugal: A rustic, cedary, robut Portuguese red wine blend of 75% Castelão, 13% Trincadeira and 12% Aragonez grapes. Aromas of wild tart blackberry and smoke. Firm tannins. Decant 1-2 hours. Pair with rare steak. Drink: 2018 - 2021 952753 14% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. February 2018. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Meet & Meat Red Aragonez Trincadeira Castelão 2015, Tejo, Portugal: A juicy, rich, full-bodied Portuguese red wine blend of 40% Aragonez, 40% Trincadeira and 20% Castelão grapes. Aromas of fleshy ripe blackberries and black plum. Firm tannins will smooth out with 1 hour decanting. Pair with rare meats. Drink: 2018 - 2021 341163 13% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. February 2018. Best Value Red Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Rosés

Wine with Spirit Bastardo! Rose Aragonez Castelão 2017, Lisboa, Portugal: A pretty, light-bodied Portuguese rose that's a blend of 60% Aragonez and 40% Castelão grapes. Light strawberry blossom notes. Perfect for grilled chicken or seafood. Aragonez Castelão food pairings: fish or grilled white meat dishes. Drink: 2018 - 2019 327725 12% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. February 2018. Best Value Rosé Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

White Wine

Wine with Spirit Bastardo! White Fernão Pires Malvasia 2017, Tejo, Portugal: A floral, fragrant Portuguese white wine blend of 65% Fernão Pires and 35% Malvasia grapes. Aromas of daisies, lilies, white peach blossom and spice. Pair with seafood. Fernão Pires Malvasia food pairings: fish or grilled white meat dishes. Drink: 2018 - 2020 401926 12.5% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. February 2018. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Bread & Cheese White 2017, Tejo, Portugal: A fragrant, lightly floral Portuguese white wine blend of 50% Fernão Pires, 25% Arinto and 25% Viosinho grapes. Medium-bodied with juicy, mouth-watering acidity for seafood and shellfish. Drink: 2018 - 2020 401942 12.5% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 88/100. February 2018. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirits Dine With Me Tonight White 2017, Tejo, Portugal: A crisp, zesty Portuguese white wine blend of 40% Fernão Pires, 40% Arinto and 20% Malvasia grapes. Notes of white melon. Medium-bodied with good acidity for seafood. Food pairings: fish or grilled white meat dishes. 13% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. February 2018. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Bastardo! White Black Edition Fernão Pires Arinto Viognier 2017, Tejo, Portugal: A viscuous, unctuous Portuguese white wine blend of 50% Fernão Pires, 30% Arinto and 20% Viognier grapes. Aromas of white flowers, white peach and melon. Medium-bodied with balanced acidity for seafood. Drink: 2018 - 2020 341155 13% D 750 mL $19.60 Score: 90/100. February 2018. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery Fancy Farm Girl Frivolous White 2015, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: What's not to love here?! An off-dry, light-bodied Niagara white wine made from the classic Riesling grape. Aromas of honeydew and lime blossom. Pair with medium curries and spices. Fabulous price, darlin! Drink: 2018 - 2021 394072 11.5% M 750 mL $14.95 Score: 89/100. February 2018. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Traynor Family Vineyard Orange Frontenac Gris 2016, Prince Edward County, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada: A pleasant orange wine from Prince Edward County with aromas of Earl Grey tea and dried leaves. Medium-bodied with mouth-watering acidity. Pair with roast chicken. Drink: 2016 - 2019 13.6% XD 750 mL $20.00 Score: 88/100. February 2018. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Casillero del Diablo Concha Y Toro Reserva Chardonnay 2017, Chile: Loaded with melons, pineapple and pears with a backbone of vanilla and smoke. Reserva Chardonnay food pairings: cream sauces, pasta, chicken, pork, risotto. Drink: 2019 - 2020 25009 13.7% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. February 2018. Best Value White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Michel Chapoutier Les Vignes Bila-Haut Syrah / Grenache / Carignan 2015, Côtes Du Roussillon Villages, France: Another terrific southern French wine from the master winemaker Chapoutier. This is a robust white wine blend of 60% Grenache Blanc, 20% Macabeu, 10% Marsanne and the remainder Vermentino grapes. The grapes for the 2015 vintage of the Cotes du Roussillon les Vignes de Bila Haut Blanc were picked from September 1-15 and fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness. Aromas of white peach and orchard fruit. Terrific acidity or seafood. Medium-bodied. Terrific! Drink: 2018 - 2022 485656 13.5% XD 750 mL $15.95 Score: 90/100. February 2018. Top Rated White Wine Full Review Add to Shopping Cart

Wine with Spirit Seafood & Co. 2016, Vinho Verde, Portugal: White florals on the nose. Strong acidic attack on the palate, with almost a spritz like tang. This Portuguese white wine is a blend of 40% Loureiro, 40% Trajadura and 20% Arinto grapes. Pair with shellfish. Drink: 2018 - 2019 401967 11% D 750 mL $14.95 Score: 87/100. February 2018. Full Review Add to Shopping Cart


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